Speech #1060012363

I would like to particularly highlight one essential mission that the Coast Guard is performing right now in Americas westernmost frontier. my home district on the island of Guam. During the past year. Guam has experienced a significant influx of Chinese illegal immigrants. Chinese crime syndicates organize boatloads of indigent Chinese citizens to illegally enter the United States for an exorbitant fee of $8.000-$10.000 per person. After undergoing an arduous journey under fetid. unsanitary conditions. the Chinese reach Guam dehydrated. hungry. diseaseridden and sometimes beaten. Upon arrival. the smuggled Chinese become indentured servants as they attempt to pay their passage to America. Guams geographic proximity and asylum acceptance regulations make it a prime target for Chinese crime syndicates. According to the INS about 700 illegal Chinese immigrants traveled to Guam last year. Since the beginning of this year alone. 157 have been apprehended by the Coast Guard. INS and local Guam officials. Since the INS does not have enough money to detain the Chinese illegal immigrants on Guam. they proposed to release them to the general populace without assistance. Fortunately. the Government of Guam has offered its already strained resources to detain the illegal aliens until they are ready to be adjudicated. Mr Chairman. Chinese crime syndicates have exploited Immigration and Nationality (INA) asylum regulations Because Guam. through INA directives. has to accept asylum applications. Guam becomes a cheap and attractive location for shipment of smuggled Chinese. The Marianas section of the Coast Guard. stationed out in Guam has been tasked to interdict. when possible. these wretched Chinese vessels that are transporting these illegals.